My two oldest girls came home with a super-fun craft after camp last summer, and I have been wanting to try it out for myself for a while now. With summer break almost here (one more week for my kids!) I figured it was a perfect time, especially since these bags are perfect for carrying towels and sunscreen back and forth to the pool.
I love to create, but I do NOT love to sew, so the fact that these t-shirt bags require no sewing is a huge plus in my book. No-sew also means that kids of almost any age can make these on their own (well, except for a little help with the cutting, I suppose…). I am also totally in love with ways to recycle things that are lying around my house. Recycle = no or very little cost.
How to make super-easy t-shirt bags:
Supplies: One old t-shirt, a pair of good, sharp scissors, a ruler, and some ribbon (if desired).
Start with an old t-shirt. I chose a shirt that had a stubborn stain on the bottom half. I didn’t want to wear it out anymore, but I still love the color and fabric.
To start, lay your shirt flat and then set a ruler parallel to the bottom of your shirt about 5-6 inches above the bottom hem.
Cut 1/2 inch strips up to the ruler (I used my thumb as a rough guide). It’s great to be as straight and consistent as possible, but luckily, these strips are very forgiving.
Now for the top of the bag. First, cut each of the sleeves off (I followed the seam line where the sleeve was sewn on to the body of the shirt).
Cutting the neck hole is a little more up in the air. I recommend leaning towards cutting less rather than more. I wanted to keep the “give hope” logo on my bag, so I cut a wide loop just to the top of the words. You really don’t need a wide space to have full access to the bag.
Now you’re ready to start tying. Knot the two end strips by themselves, and then carefully match each top strip to each bottom strip, double knotting each tightly as you make your way across.
The final (optional) step is to add a little embellishment. You can add colorful beads to the strips (some or all strips) and then knot again at the end. I tied ribbon to the very top of the “handles” to finish it off.
That’s it! In just about 15 minutes, you’ve got a new bag, perfect for carrying toys or towels around all summer.
This No-sew t-shirt bag tutorial is being featured on Skip to my Lou’s Craft Camp (this is my 3rd year participating!). Go check out the other amazing crafts….
30 days, 30 bloggers, 30 crafts.
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This is right up our alley! Great use for an old t-shirt. And I love that the kids can help out with it. Thank-you for sharing on #HomeMattersParty.
Thanks for stopping by! I will check out your new link party for sure!!
I’m dropping by from the Whimsey Wednesday link party. This is such a clever idea! What a great way to use old-ish t-shirts.
I have a link party that I am trying to grow. I invite you to share this — and a couple of other ideas — at my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party at https://grandmaideas.com. It runs Wednesday through Friday night at midnight (Mountain Daylight Time). I think my readers would enjoy this as much as I do! We’re always looking for easy things to make and do with our grandkids.
Hope to see you there,
Nina
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but
your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Cheers
Very good idea of reusing the old t.shirts.Thanx for sharing.
This is a great idea and an easy project. I hate seeing good t-shirts go to waste.
Simply brilliant. I thank you in the name of all sewing-challenged people!
That is seriously so cute! &I love the shirt you chose to use :)
This is super cute. Would be fun to do with a school shirt. (I would have loved it with a sorority shirt in college!)
cute idea
super, super cute. i love it
Um, that is totally cute!
What a cute idea!
What a cute way to upcycle a shirt that they have outgrown! I have been saving some of my tshirts to make a quilt. I love finding a new way to use stuff too!